The Irish standard., 1887-12-17

in store where nice ladies md gentle
men were coming. but he might call
again. z
Tim cast longing eyes around. What
a beautiful place it was, with pictures
and statuary on every side. There was
one group in marble he would like to
look at if the clerk would let him. 1t
seemed to be a cripple like himself,
standing before man whose face ex-
pressed the tenderest pity. Perhaps
he was doctor, and was going to cure
the lame man. He did not know. poor
child, that it was indeed the Great
Physician whose touch alone had power
to heal the lame and halt.' Then he
wondered how the statues were made.
and a number of questions that he was
given 30 opportunity to ask, rose to the
lips of the embryo sculptor, as he stood
in the doorway ere going out to en-
counter again the jeers of the thought.
less and unfeeling. Everything about
the boy invited ridicule. from bis de.
formity---which should have rendered
him sacred in the eyes Of those more
physically-.-to the style of his coat
an Old one of bis father 8, rather grot-
esque- looking garment, which Mamie
had cut down to ft him as best she
could.
| Promptly at noon Tim was on hand
again, but the merchant had not yet
come; so the little lad went away for
another dreary wait. When, finally,
he made his third appearance at the
store, all the hope and expectations of
the morning had died out of his young
heart, and he was not surprised to learn
that a telegram from the merchant an
nounced that he would not be home till
late at night. Tim made his way as
as speedily as possible, to the place
where he was to meet the farmer with
whom be had come, only to 6nd that
the man had lett some time before,
Asking directions about the road he
should take, and being told to follow
the railroad, Tim, disappointed and
heartsore, started for home.
In the meantime Mamie had the
supper ready and it was with no little
pride she surveyed the various dishes
all fs.vortes of her which she
bad prepared.
But why did ne not come? She could
not imagine what was keeping him.
flow hungry he would be when he did
come, having eaten nothing ali Gay but
a small dry lunch. She did not know
that in his disappoint ment the poor Lad
had not cared to even taste that.
Then 1T begun to grow dark with III
dications of rain, and Mamie, alarmed.
hurried over TO the farmers house to
inquire what could be keeping them.
There she learned to her dismay shat
! The old man had returned without TIN.
'Thought likely he'd arted afore me,
that he'd got II chance to ride or mebbe
got tired waiting and started hum On
foot was the mans explanation.
But he don't know the way,' said
! Mamie
| Guess he kim fin' it If he looks for
It, replied the old man, Senny fool
knows enough to foller the railroad
! The r;,ilroa,'l' exclaimed Mamie,
aud her heart stood still at the very
thought. oh. if Tim should come by
way of it, what might not happen to
him?' and flying back home she threw
on her hat and shawl, lighted LIANT ern
and taking it in her hand started out in
the rain to SEEK Tim. She had only q,
short distance to go before striking the
| railroad and then her search began in
| earnest.
| The light reflected from her lantern
was feeble indetd, but she held 1t close
to the track and ran along as fast as
she could, calling softly as she went,
Tim, Tirn,' for. sh said to herself
| perhaps ne was tired and sat down TO
rest and fell asleep She had NO idea
of the time, but she knew that in an
! hour or two the express train would
come along, and OH! what if Tim should
happen to be on Che track then?
The thought quickened her footsteps
and she sped on over bridges and
around curves until she drew near a
fagman's shanty.
Here, git off that track, will you?
| What do you want there?' shouted that
official as he caught sight or the
lantern.
| I'm looking for my brother she
answered. Did you see anything Of
him? He's lame boy she added by
| way of description.
mo. I didn't see nothing of him,
growled the man, AN if I had er seen
him on the track, I'd had put him inter
jail mighty quick, and I'll have you put
there, if you don't git often it right
away afore the train comes
AS there was nothing Mamie feared
more than the Jail, she hastily left the
track and walked alongside of 1t till
out of sight of the man, when she re